No Name- Calling: Students Take a Stand

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass (WGGB)-Students from the Birchland Middle School in East Longmeadow are standing up to bullying — and learning how to become peer leaders.

The group of sixth through eighth graders just completed a training course that taught them how to serve as good role models and prevent name-calling in their school.

They even encourage their other peers during lunch to sign a pledge against bullying.

During the lunch hour the group encouraged their peers to sign a pledge against bullying.

Many members of the group have been the victims of bullying. “People use to bully me because of my eyes and because of my race. There was one time when I was being bullied a lot,” said 7th grader, Lily Nguyen.

For her, the name-calling took a toll. “I didn’t feel good enough or didn’t feel equal to them because of how I looked,” she added.

One classmate had a similar experience, “I get called names sometimes because my name is different.. The call me sausage…The trick is to try to ignore it sometimes,” explains 7th grader, Sajen Plevyak.

Even when he doesn’t let it show… the feelings are still there at the end of the day, “More at home usually.. at home I feel really sad,” he adds.

All of these students came together with a common goal- stop bullying

Teacher, Diana Gomes says there is a lot of support at Birchland Middle School. “We do have a great support system here for students with school counselors, administration, a hotline,” says Golmes.

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